You might have noticed an uptick in suspicious messages and calls lately as scammers utilise new and creative tactics. A recent theme is impersonating legitimate financial institutions and delivery services in text messages that contain dangerous links. Last year Australians reported over $323 million in financial losses to scams, an increase of over 84% from 2020, per the ACCC 1 . Investment scams are the most consequential type of scam in terms of financial loss, followed by dating and romance scams. The most common methods of scam contact were phone calls, text messages and through social media.
The increase in scam activity over the last year is concerning and sadly there is not much we can do to prevent all unsolicited contact or being contacted by scammers. However, there are actions you can take to stay alert and lower your risk of losing money as a result of scam activity.
Protect yourself from scams | Scamwatch. If you are concerned that your personal details or accounts may have been compromised, IDCARE (IDCARE Official Website | Identity Theft & Cyber Support) is a government funded organisation that provides free identity and cyber support services. IDCARE will work with you to develop a specific response plan to your situation and support you through the process. The sooner action is taken, the better the chances of minimising harm. ACCC’s Scamwatch also maintains a host of useful resources for scam prevention and assistance. To report a scam or scam activity, visit Scamwatch and click ‘Report a Scam’. Comments are closed.
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